To Fight Or Not To Fight

Pastor Leonard Bullock is teaching a series on that issue and gave me the basic ideas for this article.

Matthew 10:16: Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Jude 1:3: Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

THE FAITH is the only thing that the Bible instructs Christians to earnestly contend for. Christians would be well advised to pick their battles. There are battles we should avoid.

2 Timothy 2:23: But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

Titus 3:9: But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

There were weapons used in Old Testament times that are not to be used by Christians. Swords, knives, slings and stones come to mind.

Ephesians 6:12: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

2 Corinthians 10:4: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Our weapons are not physical but spiritual. The Bible reveals the weapons we are to use and how to use them. If we can fight a battle with the weapons the Lord approves for us, it is very likely a battle the Lord wants us to fight. If we try to use weapons that He has not approved of it is probably not a battle we should fight. The weapons that God has approved for our use are gentleness, teaching, patience, meekness, persuasion, the Bible, faith, good, love, prayer, fasting, preaching, reproof, rebuke, exhortation, doctrine, our testimony and witnessing.

2 Timothy 2:24-25: And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

Our weapons are gentleness, teaching, patience and meekness.

Acts 19:8: And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

Persuasion is a weapon. The disputing Paul did was not just arguing. It was also persuading.

Ephesians 6:13-17: Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

The sword of the Spirit, the Bible is our greatest weapon. Many have taught the important truth that all of these things in the passage are defenses except the Word of God and that none of them are to protect our backs. We are not to run away from the battle.

Isaiah 52:12: For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.

Moderns might say that God has our backs. I like that. He protects us from things that we don*t know about or can*t see.

1 John 5:4: For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Faith is a great weapon.

Romans 12:21: Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Good is an overcoming weapon.

Matthew 5:43-44: Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Love is a powerful weapon.

Ephesians 6:18 -20: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Prayer is an indispensable weapon and boldness is a good one.

Matthew 17:21: Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Fasting strengthens our prayers.

2 Timothy 4:2: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.Revelation 12:11: And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Acts 1:8: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.